Harrison County Disaster Risk
Harrison County, West Virginia
FEMA Risk Rating
Relatively Low
National Percentile
74th
of 3,144 counties
State Rank
#9
of 55 (1 = highest risk)
Flood Risk
87th
percentile
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Flood
River, coastal, and surface flooding risk
Moderate
Higher than 87% of US counties
Wildfire
Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk
Very Low
Higher than 25% of US counties
Tornado
Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk
Very Low
Higher than 35% of US counties
Earthquake
Seismic activity and ground shaking risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 52% of US counties
Hurricane
Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 61% of US counties
Risk Overview
About Natural Disaster Risk in Harrison County, West Virginia
Harrison County's moderate disaster risk profile
Harrison County scores 73.60 on the composite disaster risk scale, putting it above West Virginia's state average of 49.21 but well below the national danger zone. This relatively low risk rating means residents face manageable hazard exposure compared to high-risk counties nationwide.
Mid-range risk among West Virginia counties
Harrison County ranks in the middle tier of West Virginia's 55 counties for overall disaster risk, with several neighbors bearing significantly lower exposure. Its 73.60 score reflects concentrated flood vulnerability rather than across-the-board hazard exposure.
Higher flood risk than nearby Marion County
Harrison County's composite score of 73.60 exceeds Marion County's 71.50, driven mainly by Harrison's stronger flood risk of 86.70 versus Marion's 85.69. Both counties face similar hurricane exposure (Harrison 60.58, Marion 58.78) but diverge on wildfire threats, where Marion is slightly more vulnerable.
Flooding dominates Harrison's hazard landscape
Flooding poses the clearest and most immediate threat to Harrison County residents, with a risk score of 86.70 that demands serious preparedness. Hurricane risk ranks second at 60.58, while earthquake exposure (51.94) and tornado danger (34.99) remain moderate concerns.
Flood insurance is essential for Harrison residents
Given Harrison County's 86.70 flood risk score, standard homeowners insurance will not protect your property from water damage—flood insurance is critical. Couple flood coverage with wind and hail policies to address hurricane and severe weather exposure, and review earthquake coverage if your home sits in a seismic zone.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor
Preparedness Guide
What to Prepare for in Harrison County
Top Hazards by Exposure
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)
Risk Advisory: Harrison County
Risk Verdict
Harrison County has a below-average natural disaster risk profile, scoring at the 74th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Households in Harrison County benefit from knowing which individual hazard types — flood, wildfire, tornado, or hurricane — are the primary contributors.
Hazard Breakdown
Flood risk is Harrison County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 87th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Hurricane ranks second at the 61th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (52th percentile), tornado (35th percentile), wildfire (25th percentile).
Preparedness Context
Harrison County's top natural hazard is flood risk, ranked at the 87th percentile nationally. Homeowners here should confirm whether they are in a FEMA-designated flood zone and check if standard homeowners insurance covers flood damage — it typically does not. Alongside flooding, hurricane exposure at the 61th percentile means households benefit from a multi-hazard preparedness plan rather than focusing on flood alone. For most Harrison County households, the highest-return preparedness step is storing critical documents in digital cloud backup combined with a pre-designated family meeting point if communication is disrupted.
Regional Context
Harrison County's composite risk score sits 24.4 points above the West Virginia county average, placing it among the more hazard-exposed counties in the state.
Is your household prepared for Harrison County's hazards?
Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the natural disaster risk in Harrison County, WV?
What types of natural hazards affect Harrison County?
How does Harrison County risk compare to the West Virginia average?
Is Harrison County at risk for flooding?
How is natural disaster risk measured?
Why is Harrison County higher risk than average?
Data Source
Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.
Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.